Classical Music intentions and intersection in Bryan Fuller’s Hannibal (NBC)

Abstract

Music plays a key role in our audiovisual experience. Although the image is the conscious focus of attention in the audiovisual narrative, it is the soundtrack that provides a series of effects, sensations and significations that enrich the story and frequently interconnect with the visual. The active role of music in the interpretation of the image is especially notable in the TV series Hannibal (Fuller, NBC). The particular qualities of its score, which combines original compositions with classical repertoire to characterise Hannibal Lecter, contributes to the creation of the atmosphere of the series and offers new meanings through the clever use of intertextuality. This article presents an analysis of the classical music in Hannibal, its relationships and significations.